Sustainable Electricity Production Research Articles

Synergistic energy solutions: Solar chimney and nuclear power plant integration for sustainable green hydrogen, electricity, and water production

Globally, countries are strategically devising and implementing plans for hydrogen production, recognizing its status as the future's primary energy fuel. This study, conducted in Irbid, Jordan, serves as a case study focusing on producing green hydrogen by integrating a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) with a nuclear power plant (NPP). The innovative design of the proposed SCPP involves the incorporation of a water pool and an electrolyzer station, facilitating the production of desalinated water, green hydrogen, and oxygen, and leveraging the excess waste heat generated by the NPP to enhance the overall system performance. The proposed integration directly routes the excess hot air from the NPP tower into the SCPP's collector to enhance the temperature profile under the collector and the air velocity, boosting electricity and water production. This integration demonstrated a significant improvement over the conventional SCPP. Specifically, the SCPP+ NPP system produced 716 MWh/year, surpassing the traditional SCPP's output of 362 MWh/year. Furthermore, the proposed design exhibited substantial gains in freshwater production, yielding approximately 260,000 tons/year compared to the conventional SCPP's 140,000 tons/year. Ratio analysis indicates a positive correlation between integrated electricity generation and water output, emphasizing the sustained improvement in water production (average ratio ∼1.88) in the SCPP+NPP system. The proposed SCPP+NPP not only doubled its green hydrogen output, reaching 25 tons/year compared to the conventional SCPP's 13 tons/year, but also contributed a substantial 200 tons/year of oxygen, surpassing the traditional SCPP's 100 tons/year. The results underscored the superior performance of the proposed SCPP+ NPP across various metrics—hydrogen production, electricity generation, freshwater yield, and oxygen output—exhibiting a twofold improvement over the conventional SCPP. Consequently, implementing the integration between SCPP and NPP, emerges as a promising and viable solution for green hydrogen production in Jordan.

Stability Study of Grid-Connected Power System for Wind Farms Considering Power Control

Wind energy has emerged as a pivotal practice in the contemporary energy landscape, generated through grid-connected power sources aligning with the vernacular principles of systemic approaches. This study explores the surge in initiation rates, offering insights into various factors impacting sustainable electricity production. Intriguingly, this research delves into the intricacies of managing the variability and uncertainty inherent in energy demand, catalysing the integration of grid-based solutions that enhance sustainability. It probes the dynamic nature of power supply paradigms, revealing a journey of continuous enhancement by applying cutting-edge resource methodologies. Amidst the backdrop of global shifts in electricity dynamics, this study uncovers the profound implications of energy depletion and wasteful consumption practices, spotlighting a burgeoning movement towards optimising grid electricity resources on a macro scale. The intricacies and nuances of power supply challenges are comprehensively dissected, offering valuable insights. Furthermore, the study explores the pivotal role played by information technology innovators in consolidating the predictability of wind energy, augmenting its viability. It also aligns with forward-looking reviews, underscoring the actionable strategies taken. The culmination of these efforts not only enhances predictability but also unlocks a spectrum of reflective and adaptive resources in wind energy utilisation.

Analyzing Policy Framework of Agrovoltaics Across the Water Energy and Food (WEF) Nexus in The Gambia

The projected increase in demand for food, water, and energy owing to systemic shocks has heightened the need for innovative solutions and integrated resource governance. The Agrovoltaics for Mali and Gambia (APV MaGa) Project, focuses on sustainable electricity production through agrovoltaics' triple land-use system and is leveraged with digital technologies. The project addresses The Gambia’s high food importation gap, growing dependency on fossil fuels for electricity generation, and high electricity tariffs. However, the nascence of agrovoltaics presents a new energy dimension that calls for increased coordination of sectoral policy and management, a domain of WEF nexus governance detached mainly from governance practice. Thus, a policy and institutional foresight of the potential implications of agrovoltaics’ integration is warranted, since Gambia’s decision-making for land, water, energy, and agriculture remains mainly sectoral. A qualitative research design was adopted, using a sample of twenty-eight key informative interviews, policy document analysis, and grey literature. Research findings show that the existing policy frameworks such as ‘Feed-in tariffs for excess RE, renewable energy funds, and capital subsidies can practically accommodate the frame of the agrovoltaics. However, clarification is required on the siting aspect of solar panels within the compartmentalized land policy structures. Institutionally, the Ministry of Energy’s nexus platform allows for technical coordination of agrovoltaics projects. However weak institutional harmonization, technical/financial incapacities, and overriding national interests due to sectoral bias present challenges. Therefore, harmonizing sectoral divergent policy provisions, interests, and prioritization of sustainability concerns will foster the pertinent integration of agrovoltaics for fast expansion.

A comprehensive analysis and multi-objective optimization of a sustainable production system based on renewable energies

The adoption and promotion of clean and sustainable energy sources bring about significant benefits to the environment, economy, and society, both in the present and for future generations. This study introduces a pioneering solar-wind biomass multi-generation system, aimed at facilitating the sustainable production of electricity, fresh water, hydrogen, and heating. This system provides a comprehensive evaluation of the influence of environmental conditions and design factors on system efficiency, taking into account the crucial aspects of energy, exergy, economy, and environment (4E). Additionally, a meticulous sensitivity analysis is conducted to identify and prioritize key decision variables that exert the most significant impact on the overall system. Ultimately, the multi-objective optimization is conducted by taking into account various priorities in four distinct scenarios. This approach enables the simultaneous or individual optimization of the system's useful objective functions in relation to the total cost rate. Subsequently, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method is employed to determine the ideal point that best fulfills the optimization criteria. By employing TOPSIS, this study aims to provide a robust and systematic decision-making framework for scenario selection in various domains. By evaluating the optimal points across various scenarios, the first scenario yields the most favorable outcomes in terms of the system's useful outputs. These include an exergy efficiency of 19.63 %, hydrogen production of 11.07 kg/h, fresh water production of 34.16 kg/s, and a total cost rate amounting to 213.80 $/h. Additionally, a considerable decrease of 22.65 % in the total cost rate is noted at the optimal point.

An overview of agro-industrial wastewater treatment using microbial fuel cells: Recent advancements

Discharge of agro-industrial wastewater causes severe damage to the environment due to the various hazardous components it contains. Progressive circular agriculture and industry involve closed cycles and zero-waste principles; therefore, waste treatment for subsequent reuse is of great interest. The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising sustainable technology capable of treating wastewater at low cost without greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while simultaneously producing electricity. The principle behind MFCs is based on the conversion of chemical energy into electricity using electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) as a biocatalyst. This article presents an overview of the progress and recent advancements in MFCs as a pivotal technology for agro-industrial wastewater treatment with production of sustainable electricity, compared to conventional treatment processes. Furthermore, the fundamental aspects of the design, configuration, operation, and application of MFCs in wastewater treatment (i.e., removal of inorganic nutrients, nitrate, phosphate, sulfate, sulfide, ammonium, organics, dyes, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and petroleum) are comprehensively discussed. Despite the viability and potential of MFCs in treating agro-industrial wastewater and producing electricity, they face various limitations and significant challenges, which are highlighted in this review. Future opportunities and perspectives on MFC applications are also discussed. Further research is required to address MFC limitations, which could make them feasible and practicable for real-world applications. However, MFC technology is clearly an excellent option for simultaneous wastewater treatment and electricity production without the need for external energy sources.

Enhancing microbial fuel cell performance: A study on carbon cloth/TiO2 and carbon cloth/CuO electrodes

AbstractThis study confirmed the efficacy of modified electrode microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD) and generating electricity using wastewater from industrial meat processing. The findings of linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) demonstrated that applying CuO particles to carbon cloth (CC) significantly reduced the charge transfer resistance, resulting in improved electrochemical performance. In the batch experiment, the MFCs were conducted by applying different electrodes and Nafion‐117 as a proton exchange membrane (PEM). X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDAX) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were performed to study the development of metal oxide on the electrode surface. The MFC operating with the CC/CuO electrode achieved a maximum COD removal (74.6%), which was attained at the peak power output of 82.56 mW/m2 and the greatest current density of 213.33 mA/m2, as indicated by the polarization curve data. In light of these findings, coating CuO on the CC anode promotes electron transfer, enhances the electrode's conductivity and increases its electrochemical surface area. In summary, the findings of this study hold significant implications for sustainable electricity production and remarkable effects on environmental quality, highlighting the strategic importance of the research approach and outputs in addressing global energy and environmental challenges.

A geospatial integrated multi-criteria approach for assessment of solar and wind energy potentials with economic and environmental analysis

India has made an international commitment to generate about 50% of its total energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2030. Here, to meet such a commitment, this study developed high-resolution (1 × 1 km2) geospatial solar and wind geographical potential maps with an aim to calculate the theoretical and technical potentials with economic and environmental sustainability. These geographical potential maps are developed by taking into account 13 evaluation and restriction factors pertaining to technical, economic, and socio-environmental categories. The investigation identifies that Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Gujarat have a plurality of extremely favorable land areas for solar and wind energy sources. Furthermore, the results imply that appropriate planning for the installation of renewable projects at the identified optimum locations can fulfill India's commitments with regard to an optimal energy mix scenario, with energy available twice the available potential for consumption in 2030. Furthermore, with the least average levelized cost of energy of 38.8 $/MWh (2.83₹/kWh) and 42.3 $/MWh (3.09₹/kWh), solar and wind energy sources are potentially more appealing and affordable than conventional energy sources. The findings of this study will also significantly advance India's attempts to accept and develop renewable energy sources, helping to realize the government's objective for sustainable electricity production.

Evaporation Driven Hydrovoltaic Generator Based on Nano-Alumina-Coated Polyethylene Terephthalate Film.

Collecting energy from the ambient environment through green and sustainable methods is highly expected to alleviate pollution and energy problems worldwide. Here, we report a facile and flexible hydrovoltaic generator capable of utilizing natural water evaporation for sustainable electricity production. The generator was fabricated by coating nano-Al2O3 on a twistable polyethylene terephthalate film. An open circuit voltage of 1.7 V was obtained on a piece of centimeter-sized hydrovoltaic generator under ambient conditions. The supercapacitor charged by the hydrovoltaic device can power a mini-motor efficiently. Moreover, by expanding the size or connecting it in series/parallel, the energy output of the generator can be further improved. Finally, the influence factors and the mechanism for power generation were primarily investigated. Electrical energy is produced by the migration of water through charged capillary channels. The environmental conditions, the properties of the solution and the morphology of the film have important effects on the electrical performance. This study is anticipated to offer enlightenment into designing novel hydrovoltaic devices, providing diverse energy sources for various self-powered devices and systems.

A Hydro Wheel System in A Non-Natural Pond Using Renewable

One of the most cost-effective ways to generate electricity is through waterwheels. Because of the need for clean energy and sustainable electricity production, hydropower currently plays an important role in meeting energy demand. Although water wheels were studied academically as early as the eighteenth century, they were mostly ignored until the twentieth century. Only in the last two decades has there been a revived interest in their use among scientists. The researcher came up with this topic to discuss its benefits and how it will be beneficial in our daily lives and make our surroundings safe, which needs enough light and helps the school or park premises lighten up the dark areas at night. Having enough illumination inside the premises of in schools and parks, according to numerous sources and data gathering findings, will help folks become comfortable in the location they are staying or visiting. Good illumination can help with mobility, safety, and security.

Examining the interplay of green bonds and fossil fuel markets: The influence of investor sentiments

This study delves into the impact of investor sentiment and the issuance of green bonds on fossil fuel consumption, specifically focusing on three key fossil fuels: crude oil, coal, and natural gas, using data spanning from 2015 to 2022 and concentrating on the top ten environmentally conscious nations globally. The findings reveal that a mere 1% increase in green bond issuance volume correlates with reductions of 0.12%, 0.49%, and 0.09% in crude oil, coal, and natural gas consumption, respectively. Additionally, a 1% enhancement in the investor sentiment index corresponds to decreases in consumption rates of 0.26%, 0.39%, and 0.01% for the same fossil fuels. Furthermore, the presence of a higher number of registered patents significantly contributes to the reduction of coal and crude oil consumption, highlighting the importance of innovation in sustainability efforts. In light of these findings, practical policy recommendations for nations emerge, including the development of robust green bond markets and the promotion of sustainability education. Encouraging sustainable electricity production through private sector involvement and local green initiatives is also advocated.

Role of city sustainability in utilizing the natural resources

This study's primary objective is to assess the impact of a city's sustainability index on the production of green electricity within a selection of 30 Chinese cities spanning the timeframe from 2000 to 2020. The findings unequivocally demonstrate that cities with a strong commitment to sustainability exhibit a marked propensity for expanding their sustainable electricity generation infrastructure. Moreover, the research underscores the pivotal role played by the development of information and communication technology in facilitating sustainable electricity production across these Chinese urban centers. Conversely, variables such as population growth, industrialization, tourism appeal, and poverty rates emerge as significant hindrances to the advancement of sustainable electricity generation in these cities. The implications gleaned from these findings point to a range of actionable policies, including the cultivation of green financial markets within sustainable cities, the digital transformation of urban landscapes, the expansion of ecotourism initiatives, and the implementation of poverty alleviation strategies in the remote regions of China.

How green finance can bridge the energy poverty gap: Policies to mitigate socioeconomic and environmental consequences

Promoting renewable energy consumption is widely accepted as an effective policy to reduce energy poverty. This study investigates the relationship between green finance and energy poverty using the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) model, utilizing data from 20 developing Asian countries from 2010 to 2021. The results confirm that a 1% increase in the sustainable financing market reduces the energy poverty gap in these Asian countries by nearly 0.02%. As a proxy of technological progress, the innovation index exacerbates energy poverty. Moreover, a 1% increase in sustainable electricity production reduces the energy poverty gap in these countries by approximately 0.35%. An increase in the consumer price index harshly impacts energy justice. Critical policy implications for developing Asian economies are sustainable power generation, establishing digital green finance, utilizing green cryptocurrencies, and improving green literacy.

Effective and Economical 3D Carbon Sponge with Carbon Nanoparticles as Floating Air Cathode for Sustainable Electricity Production in Microbial Fuel Cells.

The effective and economical 3D floating air cathodes were fabricated by a simple dipping-drying method with carbon black (CB), ethanol, and PTFE solution. Pristine Type I polyurethane sponge (5 pores/mm) and Pristine Type II polyurethane sponge (3 pores/mm) were used as the support. The deposition of CB on the Pristine Type I and Pristine Type II materials was detected by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The carbon loss rate test exhibited good CB adhesive stability on both floating air cathodes. Besides, Type I/CB floating air cathode displayed 3.7 times higher tensile strength, 10.58 times higher elongation at break, and 3.3 times lower cost than carbon felt. The electricity production ability of carbon cloth (CC) anode with carbon felt, Type I/CB, and Type II/CB cathode MFCs (CC-CF-MFC, CC-I-MFC, and CC-II-MFC) was evaluated. After 130 days, the CC-I-MFC showed a maximum power density (PD) of 92.58 mW/m3, which was 4.6 times higher than the CC-CF-MFC. Compared with Type II/CB, Type I/CB cathode improved the maximum power density by 160% due to the smaller pores, rougher surface, and higher surface wettability. Further, CC-I-MFC exhibited the best overall oxidation-reduction performance and chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency. Consequently, Type I/CB floating air cathode opens a new opportunity for scaling up simple, inexpensive, and high-performance MFCs for energy production.

Romania in the energy transition, for small prosumers - post pandemic and the Ukraine war

Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, Romania demonstrated enormous progress in the context of sustainable electricity production from renewable sources. Mainly motivated by easy access to the electricity exchange for these new producers and the appetite of the younger generation for clean energy. However, outside all development and improvements on the production side, and added new production capacity, the distribution and quality of the electricity supplied to end customers kept deteriorating. Small consumers, both private and industrial, must bear all the disturbances caused by the ageing distribution installations. For such situations, the solution came in the form of micro-grids and expansion of new electricity generation capabilities at local level, more adapted to consumers. This paper follows up on two previously introduced practical examples with such solutions, with new advantages and disadvantages, from, both, a technological and commercial perspective.

A natural state model in TOUGH2 for the Las Tres Virgenes geothermal field, Baja California Sur, Mexico

The availability of geothermal resources in Baja California has been thoroughly documented in the past. This region currently experiences a deficit in electricity production and it is, to date, disconnected from the National Electric Grid. It is therefore essential to provide strategies for a sustainable production of geothermal electricity in this region that besides, contributes to the increasing need for decarbonization of electricity industry. Here we propose an updated conceptual model of the Las Tres Virgenes hydrothermal system, a currently exploited geothermal area that has been active for more than two decades. The objective of this model is to provide thermal and aquifer relationships that gave rise to this system in its natural state. To achieve this, an updated structural model is presented based on recent geological interpretations of the area. Geochemical and geophysical evidences are also integrated in a conceptual model. A detailed pre-processing step of geological data is incorporated to preserve as much as possible the critical field evidences in the discrete model. Numerical simulations are then conducted using TOUGH2 and the equation of state for water and air (EOS3). As a result, the geothermal field is conceived, and numerically validated, as a fault-hosted fossil aquifer. The upflow that feeds the reservoir interacts with a network of faults. Since the faults hosting the aquifer belong to the regional structural feature of Santa Rosalia Basin, it is imperative to deepen the study of these system with regard to their storativity and permeability since they may control the fate of the system in the long term.

Novel design, implementation, and performance optimization of inverters by considering the effect of modulation

This research seeks to combine a comprehensive analysis of the literature regarding energy efficiency and inverters with an analysis of a configuration of a hybrid energy system including a generator, an inverter and a battery. The inverter's power output is analyzed under the influence of different distribution functions during a robust modulation procedure for achieving optimum energy saving. The modulation is tested on two processing machines independently: (a) an electric discharge machine, and (b) an injection molding machine. Based on the research methodology, problem formulations and the conducted analysis, a novel research software called “Inverter Pro V1” was programmed to analyze the estimations and performance of inverters in an energy system. An optimal levelized cost of electricity was determined given certain systems design and operating hours, and a sensitivity analysis was undertaken that identified a range of energy savings. In the sensitivity and optimization analysis, interactions among the primary decision parameters including the system's capacity, operating time, energy saving, cost of energy and payback period are investigated. It is also found that for each system, the inverter modulation categories with the optimum payback period belong to a modulation of inverter designed according to the Sawtooth function with a 45% duty cycle and switching intervals of 0.35 s. By considering the operating hours of 12.5 h per day, and the calculated system's investment cost of €31,782.158, the optimum payback period is estimated to be 1.7729 year. The study results are to inform policy with regard to assisting sustainable electricity production.

Life cycle assessment: A perspective of improvement of hydro-plants for intensify “green electricity”

Compared to the increased energy demand in the 21st century, Hydropower (also known as water power) is traditionally considered one of the “Green Energy”. Some advanced researches clarifies that various renewable generations have been performed well to fight back the drastic climate impacts. Though some of them are not as suitable for clean eco-friendly production due to the impacts on eco-system. In recent researches, the Life Cycle Assessment is a great tool to investigate the impact of renewable power plants on eco-system relating upon the whole life cycle based emissions.The Main key function of the paper is to investigate and observe the environmental impacts of the “ITAIPU Hydro-electric Power Plant”, located on the Parana River, between the geographical border area of Brazil and Paraguay”. To identify the environmental impacts CML 2001 have been adapted and the investigation shows that the construction and operation phase has the greater impacts on the eco-system. Through this investigation the identification of environmental hot-spots has been recognized which will help future renewable plant developers to take scientific steps for constructing more environment friendly power plant for sustainable grren electricity production.

Performance investigation of seawater desalination system powered by central receiver concentrated solar thermal plant

Seawater desalination using solar energy is a promising solution for addressing water scarcity in arid and semi- arid regions, as it not only provides a reliable source of fresh water, but also utilizes the abundant solar energy resources in the region to power the desalination process in a sustainable way. For this, the aim of this research is to investigate the performance and economic feasibility of a concentrated solar power plant coupled with a desalination unit for sustainable electricity and freshwater production. Six different coastal sites throughout the Middle East and North Africa region were considered, i.e., Agadir (Morocco), Algiers (Algeria), Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt), Dammam (Saudi Arabia), Salalah (Oman), and Aden (Yemen). The concentrated solar power facility has a 100 MWe net output with two tanks of direct thermal energy storage using wet cooling with seawater as the cooling agent in the condenser; the solar tower model was validated using the Gemasolar power facility in Spain; and the desalination process include a direct-contact membrane distillation (DCMD) system numerically solved using the MATLAB software®, with experimental data used to validate the model. The findings indicate that large-scale central receiver concentrated solar thermal facilities are more competitive in Sharm el-Sheikh, where annual energy output and capacity factor are expected to be 586.28GWh and 67%, respectively, while the cooling water demand is expected to be 1,793,310 m3. The nominal levelized cost of electricity (LCOEnom) is 11.2 ¢/kWh. Furthermore, water production costs are <0.5 $/m3 in Aden, Damman, Sharm el-Sheikh, and Salalah, but >1.0 $ /m3 in Agadir and Algiers. The results obtained indicate that the combination of these two technologies can be a reliable source of power and fresh water for these locations.

Neutrosophic Multi-Criteria Decision Making COMET Method for Evaluation Sustainable Electricity Generation Considering Renewable Energy Sources

Considering renewable energy sources in assessments of sustainable electricity production is essential for accelerating the shift to a greener and more sustainable energy system. The evaluation takes into account a wide range of factors, such as the renewable energy source, carbon footprint, energy efficiency, environmental impact, grid integration, policy support, cost, social and economic implications, technological progress, and certification for transparency. Sustainable power deployment may be hastened via careful consideration of these aspects by policymakers, energy planners, and other stakeholders. This paper shows the hybrid multi-criteria decision-making method with the single-valued neutrosophic set. The single valued neutrosophic set was used to overcome the vague information. The single valued neutrosophic set hybrid with the Characteristic Object METhod (COMET) method. The COMET method is an MCDM method. It is used to rank the alternatives. This paper used ten criteria and ten alternatives. The application is conducted to show the results of the proposed method.

Performance Evaluation of a Photovoltaic-Thermal Collector Coupled Stepped Solar Still for Indian Climatic Conditions

Freshwater scarcity is increasing across many parts of the globe; to meet this demand, seawater desalination is the best choice, and the electrical energy consumption is escalating due to urbanization and industrialization. Sustainable production of electricity and freshwater can be met by an integrating photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) module with stepped solar still (SSS). The present study focuses on the theoretical modeling of the PVT-SSS desalination system for evaluating thermal efficiency, energy efficiency, freshwater productivity, and electrical power generation. The solar still productivity will be influenced by the depth of water, insulation thickness, glass cover material, thickness and inclination, and operational factors like preheating the input water supply and water salinity. A comparative analysis has been made of summer, winter, and rainy climatic conditions of Vellore town (12.9165° N, 79.1325° E), Tamil Nadu. In the present work, a thermodynamic model based on mass and energy balance is developed for the PVT-SSS system, and it is solved by a numerical method. A Runge-Kutta technique of 4th order is employed using a Python program for solving the thermodynamic simulation model. The results from the model depict that for summer, winter, and rainy climatic seasons, the freshwater productivity of PV/T-SSS was determined to be 12.18 kg/m2day, 6.67 kg/m2day, and 2.77 kg/m2day. Also, it is found that electrical efficiency for summer, winter, and rainy seasons is 8.91%, 9.135%, and 9.53%, respectively. A maximum and minimum freshwater production of 1668 kg/m2 and 1218 kg/m2 are observed for a depth of 2 cm and 5 cm, respectively.